The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Leader Of The Hawk Eye Will Be Missed In Illinois

Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher-Owner

3 March 2004

We in west central Illinois will greatly miss Hawk Eye publisher Bill Mertens and extend our sympathy to his family, to his many friends, and to his business associates at The Hawk Eye.

Bill had crossed that invisible barrier that many in Henderson and Hancock County had felt was holding back a flow of communication between Illinois and Iowa newspapers. He had drawn a circle that pulled us into "Hawk Eye Land".

Not only was his cordial open door policy felt as he welcomed letters and opinions from our side of the river, but also his pioneering for stories about his Illinois neighbors has not gone unnoticed.

His readiness to answer phone calls from anyone with a question is a mark of a publisher who strives to keep in touch with his readers.

He is also the first publisher, I know of who traveled into our county to help in a celebration of our people.

After September 11th, 2001, he agreed to be part of our Veterans Day Celebration to help honor veterans, firemen, policemen, ambulance personnel, and many other hometown heroes who had served our communities.

His message of "Freedom Of The Press" is documented in video and is in many homes across Henderson and Hancock County. His presence that evening meant more than words can say to the 1400 who attended.

His kindness continued in a follow-up letter that he had sent to The Quill expressing how much he had appreciated being a part of our salute to our area's "heroes.'

I have appreciated the support he has given to our small town weekly newspapers on a regular basis. It has been the exception in today's chain of competitors.

He continually allowed stories that had been published in The Hawk Eye, to be reprinted in our newspapers whenever we asked, and without charge.

I have appreciated the kindness and admired the leadership of Bill Mertens in reaching out to his Illinois neighbors. He will be missed, but certainly not forgotten.